Convertible furniture.



l. KRAMER 81 D. A BRENNAN.

couvimmiFURNITURE. APPLICATION msb mm. 26. 19M.

Patented July 6, 1915.

3 mm mm 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1' h l'fnesa e 5: Wm i J. KRAMER & n. BRENNAN.

CONVERTIBLE FuaunuREL APPLICAT ION FILED MAR. 26, i914.

Patented July 6, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 J. KRAMER & D. A. BRENNAN.

CONVERTIBLE FURNITURE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 26, I914.

Patented July 6, 1915.

- 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- WJ L 54% orda n ea JULIUS KRAMER AND DANIEL A. BRENNAN, ofentrance, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO PULLMAN COUCH COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOI IS,

.A. CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

convsn'rlsnn FURNITURE.

To all 7071 not it may concern Be it known that we, JULIUS KRAMER and DANmL A. BRENNAN, citizens of the United States of America. and residents of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Convertible Furniture, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to convertible furniture of the class iii-which a series of foldahly related bed sections are arranged to unfold to form a bed and in which the mattress and bedding may be folded in with said sections when the bed bottom is folded. and more particularly to furniture of this character in which a separate top memher is removed from its normal position in converting the device into its bed form.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved form of convertible furniture which shall be simple in construction and easy to operate; to provide an improved form of mounting for the bed bottom adapted for use in different kinds of furniture, and means for carrying out the folding and unfolding operations; to pr'ovide an improved form of top member and automatic means'for moving and disposing of the same when the bed bottom is moved in the process of converting the device into its bed form and vice versa: and especially to provide a table bed embodying these fea-- tures.

An illustrative embodiment of thisv invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a top plan view of an embodiment of this invention in table-bed form, with the table top turnedback and the bed sections unfolded. Fig. 2 is a side view of the device shown in Fig. 1 alsoin its bed position. and with the near end of the frame removed. Fig. 3 is a side view of the table bed in its folded or table position, with the near end of the frame removed. Fig. 4 is a side view or an embodiment of the invention in bureau bed form.- w th the near end of the frame removed. Fig. 5 is a side View of the bed bottom of the device shown in Fig. 4 in its folded form. Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the bureau bed I Fig. I is an axial section of one of the rollers and associated parts on the line AA of Fig. 3, illustrating how the bed bottom is Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 26-, 1914. Serial No. 827324.

snective view of shown in. Fig. ll

g Patented July G, 1915.

carried reciprocatably by the frame. Fig. 8 is an axial section of one of the friction clamps and associated B-B of Fig. Fig. 9 is an enlarged pera bracket; for the front panel of the device. F ig. 10 is a broken side view of section 18 and coacting parts of adjoining members, showing a modified form of slot and shoulder means for folding the rear leg.

In the table bed construction shown in Figs. 1,2 and 3 of the'd a'wings, the device comprises a housing or frame 1 having sides 2 and av back 3 incombination with a foldable bed bottom l reciprocatably mounted parts, on the line 5 preferably hinged at one turning back when the de drawing the folded bed bottom forwardasa whole and restoring it to its retracted po'; sition in the frame. To this end one of the bed sections 15, preferably medial of the bed bottom, serves as a non-turning carrying member whereby the bottom is supported in,

the table frame, the other sections being foldable with respect thereto and preferably upon its upper side as shown in Fig. 3.

In order that the forward and backward movement of the folded bed bottom may be substantially frictionless the carrying section 15 is provided with roller bearings 'constructed and arranged preferably as follows: Inwardly facing channel bars 20 are disposed horizontally in and secured to the table frame, one at each side of section 15, said bars being adapted and arranged to serve as gaideways or tracks for rollers 21, 22 and 23 journaledupon. the sides of the frame 15. The rollers on each side are preferably arranged in sets of three, one adjacent to the front edge and adapted to coact with and rest upon the guide channel when the bed bottom is retracted, and the other two being spaced apart somewhat adjacent to the rear edge and adapted to support the section 15 in horizontal position independently of other means when the bed bottom is advanced to its bed position. The rollers are preferably journaled upon horizontally projecting lugs or brackets 25 secured rigidly to the side rails of section 15.

When the bottom et is folded one of the ends, preferably the head section 14:, is disposed between the middle and bpposite end sections. said section 1 being somewhat shorteuthan the other main sections, and the adpicent connecting sect1on17 being" smuewhat shorter 'illl'llf'lill'eGPPOSllLQBOHD'BCh- V links 33 and 3+ pivoted to the upper ends of the legs and next rearwardly adjacent short sections 17 and 18 respectively.

Section 17 is braced by a rod 35 connected at'its ends to medial portions of the side rails, said rod preferably being U-shaped and having pivotal end connections. Section 18 carries a sidepanel or apron member 36 of the table, which serves to hold the side rails spaced apart, and hides the bed sections when they are folded away. Panel 36 is preferably spaced somewhat from the section 18 so as to provide ample clearance for the bed spring, brackets 36 being interposed between the panel and side rails. Suitable handles or pulls 9 7 are provided on the anel 36 to facilitate drawing out the be bottom. Connective mechanism is provided for raising and turning back the top 5 simultaneously with advancing the bed bottom in changing the device from table to bed form and vice versa. For this purpose a pair of operative connecting means are provided, as levers 38, pivoted one to each end 2 of the stationary frame, one arm 39 being much longer than the other arm 40, and the fixed pivot 43 being preferably adjacent to and somewhat above the retarded position of the carrying section 1-5, and the downward arm 40 being inclined forward somewhat from alinemen't with arm 39. A pair of stops or shoulders 45 and 46 are provided on said section 15 adapted and arranged for coaction with the short arm 40 for oscillating the lever when the bed bottom is reciprocated, the forward stop45 being a little higher than the rear stop 46. A. pair of brackets @8 are disposed transversely upon nil-eases and secured to the under side of the table top adjacent to each end, said brackets each being provided. with a longitudinal guide way or slot 19 adapted and arranged for receiving and guiding the upper end of the long arm 39. 'When the bed bottom is drawn forward the rear stop 4-6 contacts against the rear side of arm -10 and rotates the lever which operates to turn back the top 5 to its vertical position. By this action the arm 40 turns far enough to permit stop 46 to go past the under end of the lever, and section 15 is free to move forward to its bed position. back into the frame the forward and upper W hen the bed bottom is pushed stop 45 contacts against the lower end and opposite side of arm 4-0 andg'restores tha lever to its original position, and thereby screw being adjustable for securil'ig a proper degree of friction by means or". a nut 57 and thumb set nut 58.

The operation for unfolding the bed is as follows: The bed bottom drawn forward and the table top israised simultaneously. This is done preferably by pulling on the handle 3? with one hand and lifting on the table top with the other to assist the lever mechanism. The bed sections are then unfolded to the position shown in Fig. 2. the foot section being unfolded first, and then the head section.

The folding operation is as follows: first the head section is folded upon the middle section and then the foot section is turned over-and down upon the head section. The folded bed bottom is then pushed back into the frame and the table top thereby swung down simultaneously to its normal position.

the forward edge of said top preferably being grasped by one hand as it swings forward, whereby it may be lowered gently into place.

The main features of this invention may be embodied in a bureau bed as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, in which case the device comprises a housing or frame 61 having sides 62 and a back 63, in combination witha foldable bed bottom Mend a. top 65f hinged as at 66,-a1l corresponding substantially with the several members 1, 2, 3. 4. 5 and 6 respectively of'the table bed above specified. The bureau bed also comprises a thereon and adapted to backward along the guide slot without departing from the spirit of on' each side of the bed preferably both being pivoted'to the foot section 16 as illustrated in Fig. 5. The outer leg 74 is pivoted at 75 adjacent to the outer edge of the foot section, and the upwardly projecting end-is pivotally cdnnected to a link 76 which at its opposite end is pivoted to section 18 at. a point '27 medially disposed thereon. The rearward leg 78 is pivoted to section 16 at 79 adjacentto the rear edge. The upwardly 78 is bent forwardprojecting end of the leg and provided with a shoulder or pivot 90 slide in a longitudinal guide slot 92 formed in the link 76. In folding over the foot section upon the mid dle section the link 7 6 operates to retract the outer leg 7% as will be understood, and at the same time the link 7 6 in moving away from the inner edge of the foot section will cause the shouldered end of the inner leg to travel and thereby fold the leg 78 to its retracted position shown in Fig. 5. Otherwise the bureau bed embodiment is substantially like the table bed. this arrangement the rear legs swing away from the drawers 68.

In the modified form of rear leg and folding means shown in Fig. 10, the leg 78, link 76 and shoulder 90 correspond with members 78, 76 and 90 respectively of Fig. 4, except that the guide slot is formed in the upper end of the leg and the shoulder is carried by the link. In this instance the curvature of the slot is of spiral shape so as to cause the coacting shoulder to gradually and continuously approach or recede from the leg pivot 77 in turning section 16 upon section 18 and thereby swing the leg. Either of the leg folding arrangements shown in Figs. 4 and 10 may be used in table beds if desired, as will be understood.

Although but two specific embodiments of this invention are herein shown, it is to be understood that no attempt has been made to show specifically all useful embodiments and that numerous details of the constructions shown may be altered or omitted this invention, as defined by the following claims.

o claim:

1. In a convertible bed a stationary frame -in combination with a movable table top and a foldable bed bottom, said bed bottom being reciprocatable' horizontally as a whole to and from its storage position and constructed to fold and unfoldv when with v drawn, and said top being supported by and hinged directly to sa-ii'l' frame normally free of connection leverage means pivoted to said frame, said leverage means being operable by the foracent section and with'isaid bed bottom, and

ward and backward movement of the bed bottom to raise and lower said table top respectively.

2. A convertible bed, comprising a stationary frame, in combination with a table top hinged thereto adjacent to their rear edges, :1 bed bottom reciprocatably mounted therein, a lever pivoted to the frame and having its arms formed and arranged for operata'bly connecting correspondingly formed portions of said top and bed bottom for simultaneous operation'thereof one by the other for certain positions of the bed bottom, said lever being disengaged and inoperative for certain other positions of the bedbottom.

3. A convertible bed, comprising a stationary frame, in combination with hinged thereto and provided with a axis, a foldable bed bottom reciprocatably mounted for horizontal movement in said frame and having a pair of stop shoulders spaced apart longitudinally of the direction of movement thereof, and a lever pivoted to the frame and havin one end formed and adapted to coact sli ably with said guide member and having its opposite end formed and adapted for coiiperation with said shoulders.

4. A convertible bed, comprising a sta-' tionary frame, in combination witha reciprocatably mounted bed bottom carried thereby, a top member hinged to the frame independently of said bed bottom and a lever connected for coacting with said frame and top and movable by the reciprocatory movement of the bed bottom, said leverbein movable independently of .said bed bottom when the latter is folded in place.

5. A. foldable bed bottom, comprising a pair ofsections hinged together, in combi: nation with a the other on a side of one of said sections and a leg controlling link pivoted to the adsaid legs for folding the same when said sections are folded and vice versa.

G. A foldable bed bottom, comprising an end section, a pair of legs pivoted to said section adjacent to its front and rear edges respectively, and a leg folding link pivoted at one end to the upwardly projecting end of the front leg and at its opposite end to a part ofthe next adjacent section spaced a whole horizontally into and out of storage pair of legs pivoted one behind a top 4 i guide member disposed. transversely of the hinged operatively connected to i bottom ,slidable as position in said frame, and mechanism mounted on. the frame for actuating said top by the sliding movement of said bed bottom, said mechanism being arranged to permit the swinging of said top when saidbed bottom is in storage position, and to permit the bed bottom to pass forward out of operative relation therewith in changing to bed form. v

8. A convertible bed, comprising a frame, in combination with a reciprocatably mount ed foldable bed bottom having a panel member secured to one of the bed sections adapted and arranged to hold the side rails spaced apart and when said bed bottom is folded and retracted to conceal the same.

9, A convertible bed, comprising a frame, in combination with a hinged table top, a reciprocatably mounted foldable bed bottom having a panel member secured to one of the bed sections adapted and arranged to hold the side rails spaced apart and when said bed bottom is folded and retracted to conceal the same, connecting means arranged for actuation by the bed bottom to swing the table top, said panel having a handle adapted to facilitate reciprocating the bed bottom.

10. In a device of the class described, a slidably mounted foldable bed. bottom comprising a series oi alternate long and shortmamas sections adapted and arranged to lie horizontally and vertically respectively when folded, one of the short sections having a transverse panel. member fastened to the side rails, said panel member being spaced back from the plane of the section, and having drawer-pull means.

11.- A convertible bed, comprising a frame, a foldable bed bottom having roller bearings for reciprocation forward and back in said frame, a table top hin god to the back of said frame at its upper edge, a lever pivoted at a medial point thereof to a side of said frame, said top having a guide Way adjacent to one side, one arm of said lever being secured to said guide way in sliding relation, adjustable friction means for slidably clamping said arm to said guide Way, said bed bottOm having a pair of shoulders spaced apart on its side adjacent to saidlever, and the opposite arm of said lever being disposed. bet-Ween. said shoulders for movement thereby when the bed bottom is moved forward and back Signed at Chicago this filth day of March,

JULIUS KRAMER. DANIEL A, B tEhlNAN. l litnesses Fern M. Diwis,

VVILLL-ui E. Hann. 

